Hibiscus plant named ‘Dreamcatcher’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of winter hardy hibiscus plant named ‘Dreamcatcher’ is the result of a unique hybridization. This new and distinct cultivar is characterized primarily as to novelty by, its extreme cold hardiness to Zone 4, large, thick-textured, “Quilted” pink flowers and its “Maple-shaped” green leaves with a purple cast, compactness of about 3 feet, its vigorous and uniform growth habit, and its floriferous nature from midsummer until frost.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Hibiscus moscheutos×H. coccineus.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The new plant of this invention is the result of a unique hybridization,with the breeding achievement being evidenced in the outstandingcombination of characteristics exhibited by this new and distinctHibiscus plant, which include:

(a) Refined, “Maple-shaped” green leaves with a purple cast andrelatively smooth margins which combined compliments the landscape;

(b) Large flowers that are outstanding for their pink overlapping petalswith a “Quilted” appearance (flowers are segmented into squares whichare puffed up;

(c) The plant being very floriferous with flowers that stay open atleast one full day;

(d) The plant being medium-sized but vigorous with compact and uniformbreaking action which gives it unique landscape utility; and

(e) The plant being so hardy that it can consistently withstand wintertemperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Dreamcatcher’ was the result of a 40-year breeding program. Itsancestry includes Hibiscus moscheutos and Hibiscus coccineus. Morespecifically, the plant resulted from multiple crossings with ‘PinkPerfection’ a Fleming Hibiscus moscheutos (nonpatented) and ‘42’ aFleming Hibiscus coccineus (nonpatented). The seedling which most nearlymet all of the above named standards was selected.

This new plant first bloomed in the summer of 1990 and was selected byDavid Fleming and Gretchen Zwetzig on David Fleming's property inLincoln, Nebr. Asexual propagation of the plant by cuttings and rootdivision has shown that the unique and distinguishing features of theplant are faithfully transmitted from generation to generation andappear to be fixed.

Since its origin, the plant has bloomed from midsummer until frost,while exhibiting the aforementioned distinctive characteristics. ThisHardy Hibiscus plant greatly contributes to the market with its, sheerbeauty and utter refinement, its compact growth habit, its enhancedresistance to disease and insects, its stability through extremes inrain and drought, and its extreme hardiness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The flower and foliage of the cultivar are shown in the attachedphotograph. More specifically, the photograph is a close-up of theflower and the leaf.

The colors are as true as is reasonably possible to attain inphotographic illustrations of this type. The colors illustrated may beslightly off due to light reflectance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

What follows is a detailed description of the new cultivar. The specificcolor descriptions are in accordance with The R.H.S Colour Chart, whilegeneral color recitations are consistent with ordinary American colorterminology.

‘Dreamcatcher’ has not been observed under all possible environmentconditions. It is to be understood that the phenotype may varysignificantly with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length, without, however any difference in genotypeof the plant. The following botanical characteristics and observationsare gathered from the plant when grown in Lincoln, Nebr. (USDA Zone 4).

THE PLANT

Parentage:

Seed parent.—Hibiscus moscheutos, ‘Pink Perfection’ an unpatentedFleming seedling.

Pollen parent.—Hibiscus coccineus ‘42’ an unpatented Fleming seedling.

Origin: A selected seedling from stated cross.

Type of plant: Hardy, herbaceous perennial.

Classification: Variety of Hardy Hibiscus plant.

Propagation: Relatively easy to propagate; holds its distinguishingcharacteristics through successive cuttings and division.

Size: About 3-3½ feet tall and about 3 ft. wide.

Form: Symmetrical annual growth from perennial roots.

Habit: Upright and uniformly branched.

Growth: Vigorous; medium and compact. Full grown (3-3½ ft.) in 2 years.

Hardiness: Hardy to at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.

General health: Plant is very disease resistant against rot, aphids,spider mites, scale, white fly, etc.; sturdy through excessive drought,rain, or wind.

Propagation: Relatively easy and fast rooting in approximately 2 weeks.

Foliage:

1. Arrangement.—Alternate.

2. Shape.—Juvenile: Variable: 3-lobed, “Maple-like” leaves with arounded base shape. Mature: Refined, “Maple-like”, 3-5 lobed leaf withentire to mildly serrate margins and acute apices; rounded base.

3. Size.—Mature leaf (petiole base to apex): Length is about 4¼ inchesor 10.5 cm, width is about 3¾ inches or 9.7 cm.

4. Color.—Young leaves (upper side): 137-A, (purple cast) between N-92and N-187. Mature leaves: (upper side): 137-A, (purple cast) betweenN-92 and N-187. Veins: 191-A. Coloration of the lower leaf surface:Closest to 191-A.

5. Surface texture.—Low to medium sheen.

6. Petiole length.—About 1¼ inches or 3.5 cm.

7. Petiole color.—191-A.

Stems: The stems are stout at the base, becoming more slender toward theapices; coloration is consistent with the petiole.

THE FLOWER

Blooming period: Profuse from July until frost.

Flower diameter: Medium to large; about 11 inches (25 cm).

Borne: Singly in leaf axils, from midpoint of stems upward.

Bloom duration: Individual bloom lasts at least one full day.

Form: Campanulate; petals are also very overlapping.

Bud:

1. Length.—About 2 inches (or 5 cm) on day before opening.

2. Color.—63-A.

3. Surface texture.—Semi-glabrous.

4. Duration.—One to two weeks.

Corolla: Having 5 petals.

1. Petal character and dimensions.—Campanulate and very overlapping.Length is about 5½ inches or 12.7 cm. Width is about 5 inches or 12 cm.

2. Coloration.—Pale pink petals. (a) Pale pink petals: Between 65-A and69-C. Coloration of lower petal surface: Slightly lighter than 69-C. (b)Veination in petals: 46-A. (c) Eye Zone: 46-A.

3. Texture.—Smooth.

4. Substance.—Thick.

5. Shape.—Campanulate and very overlapping.

Reproductive organs:

1. Staminal column.—Stamen along basal two-thirds. Stamen length: About1¾ inches (or 4.8 cm). Stamen color: 67-A, and 69-B. Pollen color: 8-B.

2. Style.—Terminates upper one-third of staminal coumn. Stigmnatic lobecolor: 155-B.

Calyx: Connate at the base; about 3½ inches (or 8.5 cm) in length.Color: Medium green.

Stipules: None.

Epicalyx: Whorl of bracts.

1. Shape.—10 to l2 slender, sword-shaped bractlets.

2. Length.—About 1 inch (or 1.5 cm).

3. Color.—43-A.

Penduncle:

1. Length.—About 2¾ inches (or 6 cm).

2. Strength.—Stiff and sturdy.

3. Color.—Light to medium green with slight reddish-purple cast.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

This plant, as a hybridized Hardy Hibiscus, is valuable to the landscapemarket for its improvements in uniquely textured and colored pinkflowers, refined, “Maple-like”, green with a purple cast foliage on amuch more compact plant, its all-around vigor, good breaking action, andadaptation to extreme environments, including the ability toconsistently survive winter temperatures of at least −30 degreesFahrenheit.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hardy Hibiscus plant,as herein shown and described.